Just here on Hilton Head Island, you could probably
come up with three or four "Dream 18" type courses
with the awesome quality of golf layouts we have
here. So to be selected to take part in the "Dream
18: Hidden Gems of South Carolina" - needless to
say, we are honored and flattered.

We take great pride in all three of our courses here
at Palmetto Dunes (Robert Trent Jones course,
Arthur Hills course and the George Fazio course) and
it's tough to pick one as any more outstanding than
the others. But from our guests, our staff, our
members and visiting media - everyone seems to have
a special spot in their heart for the 16th hole on
the Fazio course.

This hole has everything a great golf hole should
have. It's scenic, it's tough, it's fair, it makes
you think and most of all, regardless of how you
play it, you want to play it again. In fact, more
than anything else, to me that is what defines a
great golf hole - do people enjoy it enough to want
to play it again and again? Here at the Fazio
course, we have a definitive "yes!"

Hole No. 16 is a fairly long par 4, measuring 425
from the tips, 416 from the blue tees and still over
400 yards (403 actually) from the white tees. No
matter what tees you choose to play, you'll have to
hit one of your best drives to clear the bunker on
the right, avoid the second fairway bunker on the
right and of course, not go into the lagoon that
runs all the way down the left side of the hole.
The ever-present breeze is typically a cross-wind
or even into you, so this will be your most
challenging drive of the day.

If you manage to find the fairway (great shot!),
you still have to find the green. The long second
shot means you'll have to avoid that same lagoon,
more water on the right (a pond comes into play
about 120 yards from the green and all the way down
the right from there) and bunkers left, right and
behind the two-tiered green. Sound easy enough?

What I tell golfers to do on the 16th hole is to
take a moment as they play it to notice what a
great piece of land it is. From the lagoon on the
left to the pond on the right, with the large white
bunkers and fescue grass helping frame the hole
perfectly - it's absolutely pretty as a picture, no
matter what your score. As you approach the green,
take a look at the island in the center of the pond
on the right. It is a wildlife habitat, with several
species or birds nesting and feeding there at all
times of the year. No matter what your score,
you'll find plenty of birdies on this hole.

I've always maintained that a great golf hole means
a great memory, not necessarily a great score. It
offers options to the player and a unique challenge
regardless of what route the player takes to finish
the hole. This describes hole 16 perfectly. If you
make a par here, it will be the highlight of your
round. If you happen to birdie it, it will be one
of the highlights of your golf career. But no matter
what, you'll walk (or ride) away saying it was fair,
fun and you'd play it better next time. I think all
golf holes should be so awesome. But unfortunately
they're not. Good to know this one is.